Discipleship Conversations

A new season brings a new host. Jeremy and Steven welcome Tiffany Dahlman to the hosting team as they look forward to new perspectives in the conversation and a broader network of potential guests. In this episode, they return to the conversation about the words “disciple” and “discipleship” as they are used or experienced in each of their contexts.

Tiffany is the lead minister for Courtyard Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC as well as program director for the Bachelor of Science in Christian Service and Formation for ACU Online. Jeremy is a church planter, coach, speaker, and writer in Sarnia, Ontario. Steven is the associate minister for Altamesa Church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX and a ministry coach with HOPE Network Ministries.

Mission Alive has been in the church planting work for the better part of the past couple of decades. However, over the past 18 months they have been re-envisioning what it means to plant churches. What’s starting to emerge is a conversation about forming innovative faith communities (ICFs) in marginalized communities. What does this look like? In this episode Tod Vogt, Executive Director of Mission Alive, gives up a peek into a new vision taking shape with Mission Alive.

Does this sound interesting? Know someone who could be interested in participating in this new vision? You can reach out Tod at [email protected]for more information about how to join in by exploring what it means to form an innovative faith community or learning how to donate to the work of Mission Alive.

“I began looking for a way to improve my ability to have conversations with people that didn’t come across as me trying to change their mind, came across more authentically to be able to relate to folks in a way that honored them.” This is how Steve Shaffer got into coaching. In this episode, we discover what coaching is, the theological basis for it, and how it is different from counseling and mentoring.

Steve Shaffer is Director of Coaching and Discipleship with Mission Alive and the minister for Lee Acres Church of Christ in Tupelo, MS. You can reach Steve at [email protected].

Honor the person. See them as human. Be gentle and gracious. Listen deeply. These are core values Darryl Canty keeps in mind when having discipleship conversations with anyone but especially when engaging people in the LGBTQ+ community. Darryl’s passion is to be a safe conversation partner in the midst of a fractured and difficult relationship between the church and the LGBTQ+ community.

Darry Canty is the Lead Pastor for Arbor Bridge Church in Ann Arbor, MI. Darryl loves God, people, and thinking of ways to combine the two.

Cultivating the practice of listening to God into a habit that becomes a part of who we are and how we approach the circumstances of life takes time. As Chris Wiginton discovered, Discipleship Cohorts is a resource that sets us on that path whether it is our first time through as a participant or experiencing one multiple times with different groups as a facilitator. DCs are not a program, not a script for life, but a catalyst for continual growth as followers of Jesus no matter if we are new to the faith or have been at it for decades.

Chris Wiginton is a longtime member of Round Rock Church of Christ and currently serves as one of the deacons for their men’s ministry.

When it comes to women in ministry, two prohibitive New Testament passages unfortunately provide all the clarity and certainty some people need. However, Cheryl Russell and Tiffany Dahlman suggest a different approach—moving from pattern to story. We do this by opening the Bible wide, tapping into its full wisdom, and developing a theology from the stories throughout its pages about women living, working, and interacting with the mission of God.

Tiffany Dalhman is the lead minister for Courtyard Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC. You can contact her at [email protected].

Cheryl Russell is Pastor of New Heritage Fellowship in Fairview, TX. You can contact here at www.newheritagefamily.com and New Heritage Fellowship | Facebook.

Small Churches, Shared Spaces, and the Powerful Work of the Holy Spirit  – A Conversation with Cheryl Russell & Tiffany Dahlman

Often leadership is determined by who is out front. Cheryl Russell and Tiffany Dahlman give us a perspective of leadership as being alongside. The power of this kind of leadership can be seen in the way they invite people in their respective churches to significant participation in the worship service—a participation not only fosters a greater sense of mutuality in every gathering, but also increases the value placed on the Spirit of God working among everyone in the church family.

Tiffany Dalhman is the lead minister for Courtyard Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC. You can contact her at [email protected].

Cheryl Russell is Pastor of New Heritage Fellowship in Fairview, TX. You can contact here at www.newheritagefamily.com and New Heritage Fellowship | Facebook.

“My definition of prayer: prayer is the reality of God. That’s what makes God real. Like having conversation, conversation you can have with your best friend.” – Jacqueline King

What does it mean to call Jesus your friend? How does one begin to nurture such a relationship? In this episode, Jacqueline, Steven’s longtime friend and prayer mentor, shares what she has learned from a lifetime of experience, as well as more recent training in the practices of centering prayer and lectio divina.

Jacqueline recommends a couple of books to help: Sacred Breath: 40 Days of Centering Prayer by J. David Muyskens; Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie Thompson.

Bob has become a better listener in marriage and ministry. Michelle is pursuing a spiritual direction certificate with The Caritas Center. The Singing Oaks Church family is learning to slow down and listen for the voice of God. In this episode the Bentleys talk with Jeremy and Steven about how Discipleship Cohorts gave them new practices that awakened a new passion to listen to God in their lives which, in turn, has had a great impact in their marriage, ministry, and church family.

Bob and Michele Bentley are both on staff with Singing Oaks Church of Christ. Bob is the “Go” minister (outreach) and Michelle is a spiritual mentor with the campus ministry. You can contact them at [email protected].

Like many young couples, the Bentleys began marriage with visions of a somewhat typical American life. However, very quickly they could see something different unfolding as they stepped into new opportunities and took on new challenges. In this episode Bob and Michele talk with Jeremy and Steven about their journey from nursing and accounting professions in Texas to becoming church planters in Tanzania—a journey in which a short-term mission trip to India solidified a passion and calling God put in their hearts.

Bob and Michele Bentley are both on staff with Singing Oaks Church of Christ. Bob is the “Go” minister (outreach) and Michelle is a spiritual mentor with the campus ministry. You can contact them at [email protected].